Bill > HB986

This bill establishes a budget savings program administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts that allows qualifying taxpayers to designate a portion of their school district maintenance and operations ad valorem (property) taxes to be used as a grant for tuition at qualifying schools. Under the program, eligible students can receive a grant for school tuition equal to either the total amount designated by the taxpayer or up to 80% of the state's average per-student maintenance and operations expenses. Initially, student eligibility is limited to children entering kindergarten or first grade, those who previously attended public schools, current program participants, or siblings of previous participants, with these restrictions set to expire in the 2038-2039 school year. The bill creates a Budget Savings Account in the foundation school fund to manage these grants, with provisions for administrative costs and restrictions on using federal or available school funds. Qualifying schools are not required to comply with additional state educational regulations beyond those generally applicable to accredited private schools. The legislation includes detailed provisions for program implementation, fraud prevention, and a specific legal framework for challenging the law's constitutionality, with any such legal challenges to be handled through an accelerated process in Travis County district courts and potentially appealed directly to the Texas Supreme Court. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB986